Wings of Blue wins 1st national title

The Wings of Blue Air Force Parachute Demonstration Team won the U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships in Ottawa, Ill., Sept. 11-12. Pictured, left to right, are (first row): Cadets 1st Class Zoe Kotnik, Kyle Yohe, Eric Wallace, Josh LeMair, (second row) Kyle Tomaszewski, Alex Meyer, Nolan Sweeney and Mike Walker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Wings of Blue wins 1st national title

Published Sept. 16, 2010
By Leslie Finstein
U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Wings of Blue Air Force Parachute Team soared to victory Sept. 11-12 at the U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships in Ottawa, Ill.

This is the first victory for Wings of Blue at a USPA competition, said Lt. Col. Mike Love, commander of the 98th Flying Training Squadron.

Wings of Blue fielded two teams, Air Force Impulse and Air Force Eminence. Impulse took first place and Eminence took third in the four-way formation skydiving intermediate competition.

Team Air Force Impulse dominated the 10 rounds of jumps with a final score of 146, finishing 20 points ahead of the second-place team Spaceland Mamba. Team Air Force Eminence was close behind, only three points out of second place.

The Wings of Blue teams returned to the Air Force Academy Sept. 14.

Team Air Force Impulse:
Cadet 1st Class Alex Meyer, Cadet Squadron 03
Cadet 1st Class Kyle Yohe, Cadet Squadron 02
Cadet 1st Class Eric Wallace, Cadet Squadron 14
Cadet 1st Class Josh LeMair, Cadet Squadron 02

Team Air Force Eminence:
Cadet 1st Class Nolan Sweeney, Cadet Squadron 15
Cadet 1st Class Zoe Kotnik, Cadet Squadron 22
Cadet 1st Class Mike Walker, Cadet Squadron 25
Cadet 1st Class Kyle Tomaszewski, Cadet Squadron 40